Robert De Niro, who presides the nine-member jury at this year's edition of the Riviera showcase, presented the two with their gilded trophies. "It's already a real gift to get an award, and to get it from these hands," gushed a moved Berges-Frisbey, her voice trailing off as the tears came. As for Schneider - who plays the object of everyone's affections in "Heartbeats" by Xavier Dolan - he initially thought it was a joke.

"They told me on April 1 and it's such a huge award, I was sure it was an April Fools prank," Schneider told the Associated Press. "It's an honor, but also really a lot of pressure, given the list of winners." Past laureates of the honor, which is in its 10th year, include Oscar-winning French actress Marion Cotillard, Audrey Tautou of "Amelie" fame and Mexican heartthrob Gael Garcia Bernal.